Chester-le-Street provides the backdrop for Tim Roth movie

PULP Fiction star Tim Roth is among top actors in the region filming for a big budget movie.

Roth is joined by Peter Mullan, who appeared in Harry Potter and Ken Loach’s film My Name is Joe, Skins star Jack O’Connell, and Tallulah Riley, whose credits include Inception and Pride and Prejudice.

The Liability has already used Chester Moor, on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street, as its backdrop, with the production shooting in the area yesterday.

The team behind the project say the story, which follows a young man who dreams of becoming a hitman and another who wants to retire from the job, is being filmed almost entirely in the North East.

The film will also visit Holy Island in Northumberland down to Redcar in Cleveland in coming weeks.

Its makers hope to have the movie complete for the Cannes film festival in May, with the UK release expected in August.

Funding of £138,000 has been given to the production company by Northern Film and Media.